Envelop-sealing means.



T. A. THOMPSON.

. ENVELOP SEALING MEANS.

APPLICATION men FEB. 23. '1916.

yi'f'izl'iii' intra THOMAS A. THOMPSON, OF BUTTE, MONTANA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-'HALF T0 Vl. QUINN,

OF BUTTE, MONTANA.

ENVELOP-SEALING MEANS.

t ,2i Sei-SP4.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. (i, 1917.

Application filed February 23, 1916. Serial No. 80,009.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. TnoMrsox, a citizen of the Unitet. States, residing at Butte, in the county of Silver Bow and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Envelop- Sealing Means, of which the following is a specification.

rEhe present invention appertains broadly to improvements in envelops and in' particular to safety sealing means therefor.

rlhe object of my invention is to eliminate entirely the use of adhesive in the formation of an envelop and to provide instead thereof securing means of such character as will connect the flaps of the envelop together and afford at the same time sealing means for the closing flap which will preclude access to the contents of the envelop without detection.

For a full understanding of the present invention, reference is to be had to the follo fing description and t e accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a rear elevation of an envelop provided with the securing means forming the subject matter of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the envelop taken on about the plane indicated by the line 2 2 of F ig.- l.

Figs. 3 and l are sectional views on the respective lines 3 8, and -l--l of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the button or shell element of this device.

Fig. G is a similar view showing the stud element. v

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the locking member mounted in the stud.

Fig. 8 is a similar1 view of the locking member for the shell.

Throughout the following detail descrip-l tion, and on the several ligures ofthedrawing, similar parts are referred to by like reference characters.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l designates an envelop which may be constructed along conventional lines, said envelop being provided with the end flaps 2, the bottom flap 3 and the closing flap el. I do not wish to be confined to any particular shape or arrangement of these flaps as it is within the purview of the invention to attach the safety locking means hereinafter to be described to said flaps insuch a of that type which when locked will be in-I :apable of being unlocked without destruction of the envelop as by cutting it open to obtain access to the contents thereof.

Specifically describing the securing means above referred to, the numeral 5 designates what for the purpose of this description will be termed a stud, said member being of hollow formationV and having connection with the body of the envelop, as shown in Fig. 8, to the end flap 2 by flanging outwardly the base of the material. The stud is formed with a headed portion 5 which extends through the bottom flap 3 and is provided with an aperture 6 opening into the hollow head of this member.v Seated within the hollow head 5 is a locking member most clearly shown in Fig.. 7 ofthe drawing, said member consisting of a spring 7 having` its extremities bent inwardly to form opposite yieldable or separable looking elements 8. The ends of these elements 8 are beveled for reasons which will be more clearly understood as this description proceeds. The locking elements 8, as will be observed from the drawing, are juxtaposed with relation to the aperture 6 of the stud.

,Adapted'to cooperate with the headed stud 5 hereinbefore described, I provide a shell or 'button member 9, this element of the locking means being attached to the closing flap 4 ofthe envelop by flanging the material of the button `vas indicated at 10. The shell 9 is thus formed with an opening therebeneath which is of such size as to snugly receive the headed stud 5 when the shell and stud are disposed in coperative relation. Within the shell 9 is provided a locking member l1 most clearly shown in Fig. 8 of the drawing, said member consisting of a flat strip of metal, preferably of resilient character, and secured in the shell Vby clamping or crimping the outer edge of the material of said shell, as indicated at 12. It will be noted that the locling member 1l is bent intermediate its length to form a ii-shaped projection, at the lower portion of which are provided opposite detente or apertures 13.

It will thus be apparent from this description that when it is desired to close the envelop or seal its contents the closing flap lcarrying the button elements is brought into closed position and the studs 5 introduced into the openings or' the shells. As the head oic each stud is inserted it is guided by the wall oi the button aperture so that the V-shaped projection l1 passes into the apertured head of thel stud untilL the points 8 of the stud locking member 7 interlock-- .ingly engage in the detenteI 13 of the locking member 4e oil the shell.V This interlocle ing engagement by reason of the arrangement and construction ot' parts prevents any access to said parts which will permit oit the disengagement ot the locking elements. iiter once engaged these locking devices are not susceptible of being disengaged and hence the contents oi an enveiop closed b v this character of sealing means is protected against being tampered with. T he material of the envelop surrounding the stud is preferably formed. with a depression and similar depressions being made in the fiaps and surrounding the button so that the loclr- Y ing device will be seated as nearly flush with the outer surface of the envelop as practicable.

It will be obvious that any number of these locking devices may be employed upon an envelop depending entirely upon its construction especially with reference to the formation of the envelop flaps.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new is: v

i, Securing means for envelope of the class described comprising a hollow stud, a locking member carried therein, a shell adapted to receive the stud, and holding means on said shell engageable with the locking member upon introduction of said stud into the shell.

2. Securing means for envelops of the class described comprising a stud,`a yieldable locking member wholly received in the stud and consisting of an open ring-shaped member, a shell into which said stud is adapted to be received, and projecting means on said shell adapted to interlock with the locking member upon' introduction of said stud into the shell.

Securing means for envelops of the class described comprising a stud having an apertured head, a shell adapted to receive the head, and a locking member in said shell having a V-shaped locking member projecting out of the same adapted to be received in the apertured head oit the stud for interlocl-:ing engagement therewith.

Vfl. Securing means for envelope oi the class described comprising a hollowstud, a locking spring seated in the head of said stud, the stud having an opening adjacent to which the locking member is disposed, a button or shell adapted to receive the stud, a locking member disposed in said button and formed with a notched projection engaging in the aperture of said stud and interlocking with the stud locking member aforesaid to hold the button and stud together.

In testimony whereof l ailix my signature.

THOMAS A. THOMPSGN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

